This Is What You Call Local Specialties? Haotian and Yaochi Drop to Their Knees on the Spot

Outside the Purple Sky Palace, clouds billowed and rosy light shimmered.

This ancient Daoist palace had stood since time immemorial, floating in the deepest reaches of Chaos. It had been forged entirely from unknown purple divine stone and radiated a terrifying pressure that suppressed the myriad worlds.

The palace gates were shut.

On either side of the entrance stood two exquisitely pretty young attendants.

The boy wore golden robes, a hint of arrogance between his brows. He was Haotian, the future ruler of the Heavenly Court.

The girl wore celestial gauze from Yaochi. Bright-eyed and lovely, she radiated a lively grace. She was Yaochi, the future Queen Mother.

At that moment, the two were guarding the entrance. Though they were only gatekeeping attendants, they stood tall and held their chins slightly high even when facing the Grand Luo Golden Immortals who had struggled all the way from the Primordial World. They accepted the visitors' bows with dignity.

After all, even a minor official at a prime minister's gate carried weight—let alone an attendant of a Saint.

"Greetings, honored attendants."

Several mighty figures who had barely made it through the chaotic winds approached, panting. Their clothes were ragged and their hair disheveled, but they wore ingratiating smiles as they bowed to the two youngsters.

These men were rulers of their own domains, worshipped by countless beings in ordinary times. But now, in order to hear the Dao, they had no choice but to humble themselves.

Haotian gave them a cool glance and a slight nod in return. He couldn't be bothered to say another word, maintaining an air of composure to perfection.

Just then,

a sudden, rather discordant rumble shattered the solemn silence in front of the gates.

It was followed by the high, lilting notes of celestial music. Some unknown Great Dao conch was producing it, and the extravagant sound made everyone's hearts tremble.

Haotian and Yaochi furrowed their brows, displeased.

The Purple Sky Palace was a tranquil place belonging to a Saint. Who dared make such a racket?

They followed the sound and saw the mists of Chaos part as a colossal object descended, radiating an overwhelming pressure.

It was a gigantic carriage, purple and gold.

As it drew nearer, the mighty figures waiting in line to enter felt a mountain-like pressure bearing down on them. They cried out and hurriedly scattered to either side.

Nine pureblood dragons, each radiating a terrifying aura, pulled the carriage. Its wheels rumbled, crushing the void.

The carriage seemed to have no concept of the word "subtle."

It didn't stop at the edge of the plaza or pull over in a corner. Instead, it drove straight toward the Purple Sky Palace's main entrance.

"How dare you!"

Haotian's face darkened. He was about to rebuke the intruders when—

Boom!

The carriage swerved with an outrageously brazen flourish and came to a steady stop right in the middle of the entrance, its enormous body blocking nearly half the gate.

Most outrageous of all, its projecting eaves were a mere three inches from the plaque above the entrance, which brimmed with supreme Daoist resonance.

One small miscalculation, and the Saint's signboard might have been scraped by the carriage.

What was this, parking?

They were practically trying to drive right into Old Ancestor Hongjun's living room!

The mighty figures who had been fixing their appearance stared wide-eyed, drawing in sharp breaths.

Who was this?

So bold?

Weren't they afraid a Saint would slap them to death?

Just as everyone was wondering what was going on, the carriage door slowly opened.

There was no sign of disarray or travel-worn fatigue.

Taiyuan stepped out first. His pale moon-colored Daoist robe, patterned with flowing clouds, was spotless, and the faint glow of Innate Divine Prohibition shimmered across it. He wore cloud-treading boots and a jade pendant at his waist. He looked as if he had just returned, refreshed and radiant, from a stroll through his own backyard.

Jieyin and Zhunti followed behind him, both looking equally rosy-cheeked. Zhunti, in particular, still had a few crumbs of fruit at the corner of his mouth. Clearly, they had enjoyed a very comfortable journey.

By comparison, the mighty figures on the plaza, tousled by the chaotic winds and clad in torn Daoist robes, looked like a pack of beggars who had just escaped a refugee camp.

The stark contrast left everyone with a sudden, inexplicable pang of misery.

Comparisons really could kill.

Haotian watched the scene, his anger rising.

He had served his master at the Purple Sky Palace for so many years, and he had never seen anyone bold enough to block the entrance with a carriage.

He immediately set his little face in a stern expression. He had to teach these three rude fellows a lesson and show them whose territory this was.

"How dare you!"

Haotian stepped forward and flicked his horsetail whisk. His voice rang out, sharp with anger. "The Purple Sky Palace is a place of great importance. How dare you—"

He hadn't even finished speaking.

Taiyuan was already standing in front of him.

Before Haotian could finish his lengthy reprimand, Taiyuan smiled warmly and casually flipped his right hand.

Two beautifully woven bamboo baskets appeared out of thin air, giving off a faint, pleasant fragrance.

"Little immortal attendant, no need to get so worked up."

Taiyuan's voice was gentle, like that of a friendly older brother next door. He casually placed one of the baskets in Haotian's arms.

"The three of us are new here. We got held up on the way, and I stopped the carriage a little abruptly. Please forgive us."

Haotian had been about to push the basket back. As an attendant to a Saint, how could he accept a bribe?

If word got out, where would that leave his reputation?

He was about to refuse with righteous indignation when an incredibly rich force of starlight surged into his nostrils.

Haotian instinctively looked down.

The moment he saw what was inside, he froze.

The hand he'd been about to use to push the basket away seemed to take root. He gripped the handle tightly and couldn't budge it an inch.

The basket was piled high with bunches of gleaming purple grapes.

Every grape was crystal clear, as if carved from the purest amethyst. Innate Daoist patterns shimmered across their skins, and within each fruit, the tiny phantom of a star floated and spun.

Star Grapes!

Fruit from the Star Fruit Tree, a supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Root!

Word had it that this spiritual root had been shattered and lost during the Dragon-Phoenix First Tribulation. Could fruit from it really still exist?

Just one grape could refine the body, grant insight into the laws of the stars, and increase one's cultivation by ten thousand years!

And here... there was a whole basket!

At least a hundred grapes!

Haotian felt as if his mind couldn't keep up. His breathing grew rapid. The stern expression on his little face first flushed red, then swiftly filled with something entirely new: ingratiation.

"Th-this great immortal, this is far too precious. I couldn't possibly accept it..." He said he couldn't accept it, but held the basket even tighter.

"Ah, what's all this about precious or not?"

Taiyuan waved a hand, not the least bit concerned. "They're just local specialties from my backyard. We grow more than we can eat, so most of them rot in the fields. I saw you two standing here guarding the gate in the wind. It must be hard work. Your throats must be dry, right? Take them and soothe your throats. Don't be shy."

Local specialties?

Rotting in the fields?

The mighty figures nearby, who had been straining to eavesdrop, nearly choked. It felt as if all their hearts had seized at once.

These were supreme treasures! Just one grape finding its way into the world could set off a bloody storm across the Primordial World!

And he called them local specialties? Something to soothe their throats?

Did he use these to soothe his own throat?

On the other side, Yaochi had still been putting on airs, looking down on Haotian for being so shameless.

The next second,

Taiyuan smiled and held out the other basket to her.

"Young lady, you're lovely as a painting. These are a little sweeter. Have them as a snack."

Yaochi looked down. The fruit in her basket was even better than Haotian's, and several of the grapes had even reverted to their ancestral form, gleaming with golden light.

"Oh!"

Yaochi gasped, and her cold, lofty immortal demeanor crumbled on the spot. Her big eyes curved into crescents as she sweetly called out, "Thank you, great lord, for your generous gift! You're much too kind!"

That "great lord" rang out clear and sweet, straight from the heart.

Haotian, who had looked like a grim-faced demon just moments ago, now displayed an astonishing talent for changing faces.

His sharp eyes spotted the completely spotless surface of Taiyuan's boot.

"Oh, great lord, your boots seem a little dirty."

Haotian hurriedly bent down and, with the sleeve of his treasured immortal robe, earnestly wiped Taiyuan's already gleaming boot.

"There's a lot of dust in Chaos. Please wait a moment. I'll open a side gate for you, so you won't have to squeeze in with those common folk."

The mighty figures waiting in line stared at the scene, their eyes nearly falling out of their heads.

Was this really the same gatekeeping attendant who had ignored them and looked down his nose at them just a moment ago?

He was acting like the most obsequious shop assistant in the world!

Di Jun and Tai Yi stood in the crowd, watching how Taiyuan was being treated. They glanced at the piece of Fire Essence Gold they had prepared as a welcoming gift and immediately felt it wasn't good enough. Their faces burned with embarrassment.

"Just who are those three from the Western Lands?"

Many of the onlookers wondered to themselves. They etched Taiyuan's face into their memories and labeled him someone they absolutely must never offend.

As he enjoyed the top-tier service of the two future rulers of the Heavenly Court, Taiyuan felt thoroughly pleased.

If money could solve a problem, then it wasn't a problem.

One basket of fruit in exchange for the favor of the future Heavenly Emperor and Queen Mother. That was a bargain if ever there was one.

[Ping! The host has won over Haotian and Yaochi with "the power of money" and shocked everyone present.]

[Congratulations, host! You have received a reward: Primordial Sky Measuring Ruler (fragment).]

Taiyuan's heart stirred.

The Primordial Sky Measuring Ruler?

That was a Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasure, a fearsome weapon that could kill without incurring karmic consequences! Even as a fragment, its power far surpassed that of ordinary supreme-grade spirit treasures.

The system's notification continued:

[Note: This treasure contains the Great Dao of measurement. As the host wished, it is perfect for measuring the acreage of Spiritual Fields and planning furrows, ensuring that every crop receives even sunlight. It is an indispensable tool for farming.]

Taiyuan's lips twitched, but he still gave an approving nod in his heart.

Not bad. It suited my whole thing.

What was the point of fighting and killing? Going around measuring fields with a ruler—that was the proper business.

"Great lords, please come in. The auspicious time hasn't arrived yet, but you can go inside and pick a nice spot to rest."

Haotian smiled from ear to ear. This was super-VIP treatment.

Taiyuan smiled and nodded. With Jieyin and Zhunti, still savoring the thrill of their recent show of wealth, he swaggered across the threshold of the Purple Sky Palace amid the crowd's envious, jealous, resentful stares.

A crowd of mighty figures was left behind in the cold wind, watching the two attendants wave goodbye to the three men. Their hearts ached with envy.

"Money... really is nice."

Ancestor Hong Yun murmured the words that were in everyone's heart.